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Thursday, February 19, 2015

2 Timothy 3:15-16 "and that from childhood you have known the sacred writings which are able to give you the wisdom that leads to salvation through faith which is in Christ Jesus. 16All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness."

Introduction:

I have so appreciated the reader's patience these last several days as we have been making our journey through this series I'm entitling "Why the Bible". Though it may appear at times we are unnecessarily diving into techinicalities, yet the reader needs to know why the Bible they have is the Word of God. Today's post is partially devoted to reviewing what we have covered thus far in this series and partially devoted to moving ahead. We want to bring into the discussion the specific issue of the Bible's inspiration and consider it in relationship to all that has been already covered. Perhaps more for this blogger than anyone else, the attempt is being made to lock into the heart and mind this vast but important area for the Christian - namely showing why the Bible alone is the trustworthy Word of God.

What I teach regularly when it comes to the revelation and inspiration of the Bible.

The doctrine of revelation has to do with God communicating His Word(s) to the Old Testament prophets and New Testament apostles. Once that process began, the biblical authors, by the superintending work of the Holy Spirit, wrote down in each of their own writing styles the words of scripture by a process called "inspiration". Two chief texts provide the foundation for these two closely related truths of revelation and inspiration. 2 Peter 1:20-21 "But know this first of all, that no prophecy of Scripture is a matter of one’s own interpretation, 21 for no prophecy was ever made by an act of human will, but men moved by the Holy Spirit spoke from God." The word underlined in Peter's text, "moved", refers to the manner in which a ship would had been borne or "moved" along by the wind. The second text is the one mentioned at the beginning of this post, 2 Timothy 3:16 - "All Scripture is inspired by God and profitable for teaching, for reproof, for correction, for training in righteousness." The word translated "inspired" gives the idea of God "exhaling" his breath and words into the words that the prophets and apostles wrote. To borrow an illustration from Genesis 2:7, just as God breathed into the nostrils of Adam to make him a living soul, God breathed into the words of the scriptures to make them a living set of Divinely authoritative books.

The very words in which the prophets and apostles wrote were superintended and preserved from error by the Holy Spirit. Consider this logical argument:

The reader can refer to these verses and see firsthand that the Bible has to say for itself in regards to its Divine inspiration and authority. This is what this blogger teaches, preaches and proclaims every week and also undergirds the entirety of this blogsite. Tomorrow we will continue consideration of the Bible alone being the trustworthy Word of God. To God be the glory.